It is always a treat watching tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain perform. A couple of days ago the jugalbandhi between the vocals, sitar, drums, keyboard and tabla was a joyful experience. Although performing together for the first time together, the coordination and chemistry on stage was amazing. The five artists spoke to and understood each other through the language of music. While leaving, I ran into a friend who made a very interesting remark; she said – ‘isn’t our life also a jugalbandhi of relationships.’

It is so true – there are some people in our life with whom we share an understanding that goes beyond words.

We know when to hand off to them in a discussion, and when to pick up from something they have said. It is never a competition of wits or ego, but rather a melody of thoughts that brings out the best outcome, even when points of view differ.

We know when to step into their lives and be there for them without them having to ask us, and we know when to give them their space without any feeling of insecurity or possessiveness.

We know when to give them our advice and perspective, and we know when to reach out to take their advice. There are times we play the role of helping them clear their mind, and sometimes they play the role for us.

We effortlessly follow when they take the lead, and we know when to lead without having to worry about egos.

Even when there are others around, the space is never dominated or jostled for, it is shared with them, going back and forth in an unwritten way. We can sense when they are coming under pressure and step in to release it, and at the same time, we know when to give them an opportunity to play to their strength.

Most times we know what they will say next, and often we know what they are feeling without them having said anything.

These relationships complement us in a manner that helps complete us. But we can only build such understanding with ease when we are in tune with ourselves. No matter how good and talented we are, there are some who bring out the best in us. When we reflect on it, we will realise that they are the ones with whom we have a jugalbandhi of complete love and trust.

(Picture – Purbayan Chatterjee – sitar, Vijay Prakash – vocal, Sangeet Haldipur – keyboard, Taufiq Qureshi – drums, Zakir Hussain – tabla )